Qatar Airways to expand service in Italy

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker was in Rome last week to discuss expanding the airline’s services in Italy with Federica Guidi, the country’s minister of economic development.

The air carrier is set to expand capacity for flights into Rome, Venice and Milan, which Al Baker said is an important step in raising Qatar Airways’ profile in the profitable European market.

"Qatar Airways' growth in operations to Italy are extremely important in relation to the airline's wider route map, as it is a central trading zone, with many countries from the Far East, Middle East and Africa connecting via Doha to reach the Italian gateways for both business and leisure purposes,” Al Baker said.

The Italian Minister Economic Development was pleased to discuss ideas for mutual cooperation, airline synergies and possible aviation partnerships. Rome and Milan will both see a carrying capacity increase of 30 percent from the airline’s main hub in Doha with the introduction of wider body aircraft on their double daily flights and Venice will see the largest expansion with a 70 percent increase. That route will add an all new A330 aircraft, replacing the A320 that currently serves there.